Warhound Launches to Engineer High-Performance Military Dogs

A new venture is launching to build better working dogs for the U.S. military and law enforcement. The company, called Warhound, emerged from stealth on Thursday with $200 million in funding. The round values the company at $1.2 billion.

Investors include Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is a venture firm supported by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. Warhound was founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril. They first discussed the idea about a year ago at a conference.

The project aims to address a shortage of working dogs. More than 80% of the U.S. military's working dogs are sourced from Europe. Less than half of those imported animals are fit for service. This creates a reliance on foreign nations for animals that perform critical tasks.

Warhound plans to engineer dogs for specific missions. These tasks are dangerous for humans or difficult for machines. The company will focus on bomb detection, searches, and other specialized operations. Lamm said the goal is to engineer dogs with “characteristics suited to demanding missions.”

Lamm researched how working dogs are bred after meeting Luckey. He learned that many animals fail training. They often have inherited health issues. Common problems include poor eyesight, high cancer risk, hip dysplasia, and muscle atrophy. Warhound aims to solve these issues through genetics.

The process starts with top-performing breeds. The team is using Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds. They have collected cell lines from these dogs for a biobank. The team will edit the dogs' genes. They plan to add genes that improve performance and remove others. Lamm called the result “a new type of dog.”

Anduril will provide technology for the animals. The company will supply software and hardware. This includes protection vests and goggles. Such gear can assist with situational awareness. Lamm said the equipment will make dogs safer. “The idea is, if we make the dog safer, make it healthier, make it perform better, it’s going to perform better in the line of duty,” he said.

The first group of dogs is ready for cloning. Incubation will start soon. Births are expected early next year. Service could begin within two years. Viagen, a Colossal-owned company, will handle the cloning process. Warhound does not know yet how much it will charge for the dogs. The company expects to sell to the Department of Defense and police forces.

The company is working with the American Humane Society. The group will help certify the training program. The Society also hopes to place retired dogs in its Military Working Dog Reunification Program. The Society stated it looks forward to working with Warhound to “help ensure the animals in their care are treated humanely.”